Eaton loses debut but wins respect  —  ARLINGTON — Adam Eaton was right — he's not a savior.  He only looked like it for 3 2/3 innings Tuesday night.  —  Eaton made his long-awaited Rangers debut against the New York Yankees.  It came after a nearly four-month delay due to Eaton tearing …

Get on the D-Train  —  Despite huge NL East lead, Mets must trade for Willis  —  If you've never seen a club with an 11½-game lead panic, watch the Mets closely if they lose at Atlanta this weekend, coincidentally the three days that precede trade-deadline day.

Nats ride early lead to fourth straight win  —  Anderson, Church knock two-run hits in big third inning  —  WASHINGTON — With all the trade rumors surrounding the Nationals, it gets lost that they are playing good baseball these days.  With the additions of outfielder Austin Kearns …

Dayton: man with the plan  —  One of my favorite baseball scouting phrases is: "The guy's got an idea out there."  It's a wide-ranging compliment that goes beyond tools and miles per hour and on-base percentage.  The "idea player" has something extra — an instinct for the game …

Phillies Notes |  Trade speculation clouds Phils' futures  —  Phillies Notes  —  Jon Lieber will pitch tonight for the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.  Cory Lidle will pitch tomorrow night.  —  Expect a crowd.  —  The Bank has been packed with scouts since Friday …

Yankees add backup catcher Fasano  —  Class A infielder Made sent to Philadelphia; Stinnett designated  —  ARLINGTON — Looking to improve their backup catcher position, the Yankees acquired Sal Fasano from the Phillies on Wednesday morning.  —  New York sent Minor League infielder Hector Made to Philadelphia to complete the deal.

Playoff bus hits a small rut  —  Mets drop 3rd in row as Glavine is hit hard and blows early lead  —  The cruising Mets hit a pothole for a third straight game last night, though the large advantage they own in the National League East makes it less likely that they'll careen out of control and run off the road to the postseason.

Red Sox send Snyder to try for sweep  —  Boston (61-38) at Oakland (51-49), 3:35 p.m. ET  —  The Red Sox can end this West Coast journey with a 4-2 mark by completing a three-game sweep of the A's on Wednesday afternoon at McAfee Coliseum.  —  To do so, they'll need a strong outing …

ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT  —  REYNOLDS WANTS ESPN JOB BACK  —  July 26, 2006 — After being accused of sexual harassment and fired by ESPN, former "Baseball Tonight" analyst Harold Reynolds said yesterday he doesn't think he did anything wrong and is still hoping to regain his job.

Scott Kazmir to miss start on Friday  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —Tampa Bay Devil Rays left-hander Scott Kazmir will miss his scheduled start Friday night against the New York Yankees because of shoulder soreness.  —  The Devil Rays do not consider the problem serious and expect the 22-year-old Kazmir …

Notes: Prior gauges his progression  —  NEW YORK — Many will look at Mark Prior's last start — in which the 25-year-old right-hander lasted only 3 1/3 innings in a 7-6 loss to the Nationals on July 21 — and say that he's regressed.  But looking at his sporadic schedule would be a clearer sign of how to judge Prior's progression.

Angels Seek Infield Help  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With six days left before Monday's trade deadline, the Angels' search for a hitter appears to have shifted away from the corner outfield and designated hitter spots and toward the corner infield spots.  —  That wouldn't preclude a deal …

For Nationals, Greed Is Very Good  —  Jim Bowden is in heaven.  Sitting in the Nationals' dugout before last night's game, he beat the trade drums so loudly that you could hear them from Los Angeles to Chicago and Detroit back to New York.  "The fire department is in my office right now hosing …

Manny's style works, A-Rod's clearly doesn't  —  As a public service to Tuesday night's partisan crowd in Oakland — and by that we mean the many thousands of Boston Red Sox fans — we provide this update on your never-ending conflict with the New York Yankees: Don't sweat it.